Jill St. Onge is a 27-year-old Seattle, Washington woman who died mysteriously while vacationing at a resort in Thailand in May 2009. St. Onge, who was vacationing with her fiancé Ryan Kells, fell ill and died before she could be taken to a hospital. According to reports, a 22-year-old Norwegian tourist who was staying in the room next door to St. Onge at the resort died of the same mysterious illness that same weekend.CNN: Questions surround death of Seattle woman (May 8, 2009)
The Blame Game
Some officials in Thailand have tried to blame the two tourist deaths on the tourists themselves, suggesting that they may have died after consuming a local alcohol "bucket" beverage. Kells says that neither he nor St. Onge consumed alcohol on the night of her death. Thailand officials have also cryptically suggested that Kells and St. Onge were seen arguing on the night of her death. Kells denies this report as well and has mentioned that even if they had argued it would not explain the death of the neighboring Norwegian tourist. Seattle Times: Family seeks answers in Seattle artist's death (May 8, 2009)
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Fast Facts
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Name
Jill St. Onge
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Age
27 years old
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Occupation
Artist
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St. Onge was from Seattle, Washington
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St. Onge and fiancé Ryan Kells left American to tour Southeast Asia in February 2009
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During the last few days of their trip they decided to splurge on a room with air conditioning at a resort on Thailand's Phi Phi islandCNN: Questions surround death of Seattle woman (May 8, 2009)
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That night St. Onge and Kells became ill
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At first they assumed it was food poisoning, but as St. Onge's condition worsened Kells raced to take her to a hospital
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St. Onge died before arriving at the hospital
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Two Norwegian tourists staying in the guest house next door to St. Onge and Kells also fell ill that weekendSeattle Times: Family seeks answers in Seattle artist's death (May 8, 2009)
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One of the Norwegian tourists, a 22-year-old woman, died from her illnessCNN: Questions surround death of Seattle woman (May 8, 2009)
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Others have speculated that the deaths may be due to chemical fumes from a water treatment facility near the guesthousesSeattle Times: Family seeks answers in Seattle artist's death (May 8, 2009)
